Increased exposure enhancing positive project

Increased exposure enhancing positive project

CHAMPAIGN -- A project to highlight the accomplishments of young, black men is getting a lot of positive feedback.

Update: 10:21 pmCHAMPAIGN -- Black male students from Central and Centennial high schools are generating a lot of buzz with a video they created. It serves to dispel stereotypes associated with with their group. WCIA-3's videographer Aubrey Morse shows how it's opening minds and eyes Through the Local Lens.

"It means a lot to me, being a black male. It actually shows that there is a lot more to us than being in gangs and violence. We're successful in many different ways."

"People got to see what's on the inside. We got to show the potential we have, our talent, all those things."

"The media shows our black males either as thugs in this image and this violence or as basketball and football players. There are other images we can see as well. You don't have to wear a suit and tie, but it might be the responsibility of these boys to show that image sometimes so that the message can start changing."

"There will always be trials and tribulations. You just have to find out what it is you want to do when adversity strikes and you can't give up."

"We still are successful with or without it. It doesn't matter what we're in. It matters how you apply yourself in everything you do."

Original: 6:04 pmCHAMPAIGN -- A project to highlight the accomplishments of young, black men is getting a lot of positive feedback. Students at Central and Centennial high schools put a video together to counteract negative stereotypes. Organizers say the two-minute clip is opening eyes and minds.